100 state houses may be demolished

9:41 am on 10 September 2010

Housing New Zealand expects to have to demolish 100 state houses in Canterbury damaged in the earthquake.

The Government housing corporation assessors have begun a programme to inspect each of its 6000 properties and locate all the tenants.

Housing New Zealand says about 1500 houses have urgent repair jobs logged and 207 properties appear to have structural damage.

Chief executive Lesley McTurk says the number of houses beyond repair is not yet clear, but could be about 100.

Dr McTurk says the state housing corporation is also matching people in welfare centres with offers of emergency accommodation from businesses and the public.